Chapter 627 Warsaw
The battle began at about 4 p.m., with the Milanese launching a devastating attack, sweeping through the archers in front of them and marching straight through the army, then instead of regrouping for a surprise attack from behind, they pillaged the carriages for their baggage.
Stefan ordered a counterattack. He set an example and attacked personally with weapons. The English were inspired and continued to fight tenaciously, forcing the French defense line back to the Scots behind them and annihilating all French troops along the way. The Scottish army, on which Charles VII relied heavily, was almost completely wiped out, and its successors were weak.
Charles VII could not let go of this defeat. He gave up his plan to crown Lance, and from all indications, also gave up his plan to restore the kingdom, and lived a lazy and luxurious life, causing those who were still loyal to his cause to lose their goals and hope. Stefan returned to Paris and was welcomed as a hero.
After this, Stephen appointed the Patriarch of Paris to be responsible for the church's mission in northern France. And he's already found his next target: Orleans.
Orleans is located on the plain on the north bank of the Loire River, at the top of a bend in the river. It is the closest stronghold to Paris, only 8 kilometers away. It is one of the largest and most densely populated cities in France, surrounded by ancient walls, 8 heavily guarded gates and more than 30 towers. On the south bank of the river, separated by a drawbridge, is the Touré Castle. This small fortress guards the 19-hole stone bridge built in the 12th century across the Loire River, like a small island in the river.
The choice of Orleans as a target was a provocation, and the siege of Orleans was against the interests and wishes of Philip, Duke of Burgundy. This originally troubled Stephen, but it created an incentive for the Earl of Salisbury to He was an enemy of the Duke for different reasons.
The Earl of Salisbury besieged the city from the south, concentrating all his efforts on capturing the bridge. As a precaution, Gaucul demolished the convent of the Augustinian monks, which was located directly opposite the Castle of Touré and would have become a powerful base for bombing the castle. He also built huge fortifications - or "protective walls" - in front of the city gates to mitigate cannon fire and direct attacks. Nonetheless, the British turned their guns on the fortifications and began digging tunnels beneath them. A few days later they attempted to storm the castle, but were repulsed by boiling water, burning charcoal, and oil, which the women of Orleans had prepared for the defenders to pour on the attackers. Three days later the French retreated from the bridge into the city, leaving Salisbury to occupy Toure Castle.
This was a victory in name only. While the British army attacked the protective wall and the castle, the craftsmen of Orleans were secretly digging out the stone bridge and demolishing the last two piers just waiting for the garrison to retreat. Salisbury was now stranded on the south bank of the Royal River, deep and fast. The current kept him very far from his target. His position was dangerous because winter was approaching and not only was it inconvenient for him to receive supplies from the north shore, but he was also likely to be attacked by Charles VII's hinterland.
But he did not retreat, and was determined to dig trenches and defend the city in preparation for a long siege. He set up a headquarters and fort in Turay Castle, trained gunners on the city wall, and began to rebuild and expand the protective wall. The defenders also increased their vigilance, the fragile city gates and towers were blocked, the suburbs were burned and cleared, at least 23 churches and cathedrals were demolished, and many of the best houses and buildings belonging to the Orleans people were also destroyed. Citizens were trained to man the fortifications, and weapons, armor, cannon, and food were collected from neighboring towns and hoarded in preparation for a siege.
——————————
Under the city of Warsaw, Poland, Brandenburg's flag was flying in the sky, and what frightened the defenders even more was that Romania's purple double-headed eagle was also among them.
Peter and Vlad's armies successfully merged, and Peter was relieved to learn that the other party had solved Władysław. This way, the Polish royal family was ended. According to his information, Władysław had no heirs.
In this case, what are you waiting for, attack. The artillery fired continuously, and the entire Warsaw was plunged into smoke.
In the southern part of the city, after continuous and indiscriminate bombing, the entire southern part of the city was filled with smoke and could not dissipate for a long time.
For the first time, Zaimoski felt how fragile Warsaw, a military powerhouse, was. He had made all-out plans, but he was still so powerless in front of the Romanian army. "My lord, their artillery has stopped." A general said in surprise.
Zaimoski looked outside the city, but could not see anything because of the smoke raised by the artillery shells. He immediately hid in the battlements and "told the soldiers to defend themselves. After the artillery fire, the enemy troops will definitely use it to attack." of."
As he expected, armies from Romania and Brandenburg came from all directions. Although they were scattered over a wide area, the target was easy to see, which was the gap in the south of the city that had been blown down before.
"Get ready, this may be the last time we serve this country."
Within a moment, the Romanian army approached the city wall, shouts of killing and screams intertwined. As the distance shortened, the roar of boulders, the dull echo of oak hitting the city gate, the painful groan of swords piercing the human body, and the cold sounds of weapons chopping flesh and blood continued one after another. There are also a series of sounds of human bodies falling into the moat, which is heart-stopping. The cruelty and ruthlessness of war were fully revealed at this moment.
The fierce fighting in the siege intensified, and the shouts of the attackers could be clearly heard. Brandenburg's officers loudly announced outside the city that the first 100 people to enter the city could obtain land and wealth, and capture important personnel and grant them titles.
After hearing the news, the army's offensive became more fierce, and various sounds were mixed and difficult to distinguish. Four hours later, accompanied by a loud bang, the city gate was finally breached. Desperate screams rang out: "The city is broken! The city is broken! They entered the city..."
Then, the dense footsteps drowned out the desperate cries. Soldiers poured into the dilapidated city like a tide. In various places, there were also some citizens who did not want to be captured and resisted these invaders.
But after all, the gap between the two sides was too large. After holding on for less than half an hour, the defenders were gradually suppressed and retreated step by step.
Zaimoski led the remaining defenders and citizens to the church, relying on the streets to fight and retreat, and successfully repelled several enemy attacks. But it was just to buy time.
They retreated into the church, and they were desperate after even the king was gone. In order to prevent them from being insulted, they decided to burn themselves and become God's most loyal believers.
In this way, more than 300 people, together with the cathedral, burned under the eyes of Romanian soldiers. The soldiers heard the prayers in the church, perhaps for the opportunity to go to the land with abundant grass and water.